Recent Transgender Articles
Trump/Pence and The Trans Community
Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein takes a look at the possible ramifications of the Trump/Pence administration for members of the trans and LGBQ communities. She looks at everything from the progress our community has made through President Obama’s executive orders to the Affordable Care Act, trans in the military, and more. For some enlightenment on the dark days ahead read what Babs has researched.
The Week In Trans 11/7/16
It’s The Week In Trans — All the trans related news from around the world gathered in one place for your perusal. Today we learn that Bob The Drag Queen flew to the west coast to Trick or Treat with a nine-year-old fan. Trans kids can use the restroom they like in any Dept. of Defense program or activity. The Bud Light Party is over — because it was too LGBT friendly? An app to find trans-friendly services is coming soon. Health Insurance is covering more gender transition services. Trans people are more ethnically and racially diverse. Myanmar holds its first trans beauty pageant. The Boulet Brothers create a dark alternative to “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” A trans woman is the Oprah Winfrey of China. All that and much more plus a boatload of TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
Here’s Why You Should Vote Democratic
Our political correspondent, Babs Casbar Siperstein, has been fighting for our rights as trans people for many years. Most often in that struggle she has had elected officials from the Democratic Party as allies. She has worked with and for Mrs. Clinton and she has words of advice for those in the trans, and the LGB communities about who has their best interest at heart. Read her comparison of the Democratic platform that Mrs. Clinton promotes and the Republican agenda that Mr. Trump would defend and promote. It is clear which party and which candidate will stand for you.
November is Transgender Awareness Month
November 2016, has been designated as Transgender Awareness Month to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people, and address the issues the community faces. The intention is for all of us to use this time to build our voices into one load call for awareness, understanding, education, acceptance and inclusion.
Fabulosas Flores — Crossdressing Comedy From Chile
A funny Chilean television series from 2015 is about an all-female taxi company that can’t find enough women who know how to drive. Funded by a grant that requires the management and staff to be all women means that the founder’s recently returned home son can only help out by dressing up. One thing leads to another and soon his secret life is the time he spends as a man — while the rest of the time in public he is known as a trans woman cabbie. It’s called Fabulosas Flores which means Fabulous Flowers.
A TGF Rerun — Beautiful Eyes
This “how to” TGForum Rerun appeared on TGF in December of 1997. It’s by the late Roberta Angela Dee whose advice on beauty remains sound in the 21st century. In this post she talks about minimizing masculine facial characteristics and accentuating feminine ones. She also discusses using shading and highlighting to make a nose or chin more feminine looking.
Above the Fray . . . Far, Far Away
Today in her personal blog Amanda talks about her day to day routine and what the possible causes of her anxiety might be. She feels that one of the big things is uncertainty over pursuing reassignment surgery. Should she go for it when she has anxiety? Is surgery the right path to take? While she feels daily anxiety she feels she is not operating at 100% — and that causes her more anxiety. What she would like to be is far, far away, flying above the fray.
The Week In Trans 10/31/16
It’s all the trans related news that’s fit to print! The Week In Trans is here and ready for your perusal. What do we learn today? Plastic surgery fan and singer Pete Burns has passed away. Gavin Grimm’s case is going to the Supreme Court. Controversy over taking the rights we can get or holding out for more. Kataluna Enriquez is the winner of the 2016 Trans Nation Pageant. A trans model is featured on the cover of Elle Brazil and another is on the cover of the Spiegel Catalog. Big turnout for the D.C. High Heel Race. 10 trans soldiers come out as trans. Bianca Del Rio creates a comedy special. Are you ready for Ed Wood the musical? All that and more is waiting for you in today’s TWIT!
Costumes
Several years ago it was a suggestion from Sophie’s wife that lead her to break down the wall that sealed off her feminine spirit. Her wife suggested that they go to a Halloween party with Sophie as Lois Lane and her wife as Clark Kent. It turned out to be the suggestion that turned Sophie’s life upside down and lead to her transition. That’s why since that fateful All Hallow’s Eve the holiday has had even more of a special meaning for her. Read all about her relationship with the Holiday and wearing costumes in today’s post.
A Fantasia Fair 2016 Photo Gallery by Jan Brown
All the photos in Jan Brown’s Fantasia Fair report, and several that weren’t published in that reprot, are here in a photo gallery for your viewing pleasure.
Winter is Coming. You Need a New Coat!
The weather has been changeable with warm days, almost like summer, and then cooler, rainy days. But the big change to solid fall and winter will be with us soon. Of course that means one thing. Coat shopping! Today Lorraine Anderson, head seamstress at The Occasional Woman, counsels color when choosing new autumn and winter outerwear. There’s nothing like a dash of color to brighten up a dreary winter day. Lorraine tells you what to look for on your coat quest.
How To Lace a Corset — Part 2
Today Chanelle continues her tutorial on how to “bi-directionally lace” a steel boned corset. (That means you use two laces rather than just one.) Why would you need this skill? Chanelle suggests that you may wish to, at some point, change the color of your corset’s lacing. How sexy would it be if the laces matched some other color in your outfit? Check out Part 2 of Chanelle’s video on corsetry for your figure.
Fantasia Fair 2016
Our contributor Jan Brown spent the week at Fantasia Fair October 16 — 23 and she has filed a report on the Fair. Jan attended all the events from the Fashion Show to the Follies, the Saturday Nite Gala, and many of the workshops and seminars. She tells you all about it in this Fan Fair report.
The Henri David Halloween Ball — 2016
On the night before Halloween all the ghouls, monsters, dragons, witches and sexy cheerleaders did gather at the Sheraton in Philadelphia for the Henri David Halloween Ball. That’s right. This year for reason unknown Henri was forced to have his gigantic costume party on the night before Halloween. This has only occurred very, very few […]
Crossdressing Memories, Chapter 5
Julie Gaum is 91. She’s been crossdressing since she was 15, after an earlier incident at age 7. Now she has written a book to share her story with the world. The book is called “Never Climbed His Mountain.” On TGF Julie tells her story. She graduated from Wharton, went to Hollywood to work in the film industry and found herself romantically involved with a Hungarian woman while Julie collected more women’s clothes in secret. She left Hollywood to work for a home improvement chain in Canada and logging many miles on the lonely road. Then she reconnected with the widow of her cousin and the two decided to move to Florida together. Things were looking up.
Princesas de la Noche
TGF welcomes a trans voice from Bogota, Columbia. Her name is Katherine Diaz and she has produced a video and written a blog post in her native language about trans life in her country. (Those who don’t know Spanish can use Google Translate to get the gist of her message.) Hola Katherine! Welcome to TGForum.
Trans Computer Pioneer Receives Honorary Degree
We received the following press release from Dr. Aaron Devor at the University of Victoria: I am very pleased announce that Lynn Conway will be receiving an Honorary Doctor in Engineering from the University of Victoria on Wed., Nov. 9th at 10:00 AM PST (-8 Hrs GMT). You can watch it streamed live on the […]
Voice Therapy for Trans People
Marc Mitnick,MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech pathologist practicing in the South Florida areas of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. He is blogging with TGForum to provide information on how to successfully, without damage to the vocal cords, achieve the voice that matches your gender identity. He works with both FtM and MtF trans people. Today he provides an overview of how speech therapy can work for you and how to find a therapist in your area.
The Week In Trans 10/24/16
It’s The Week In Trans! Today we learn many things. “Beauty boys” are gaining greater acceptance from cosmetic companies. Johns Hopkins will start doing GRS again next year. Many legal rulings in the restroom wars have occurred. A 16-year-old trans girl gets an award in Australia. A school newspaper says we should avoid Halloween costumes that offend. A trans woman in the U.K. went on a reality TV dating show. A film maker has done a video documentary on trans life in Iceland. Was “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” re-make worth it? There’s all that and a whole lot more, not to mention a sizable selection of TWIT Awards, in this edition of TWIT!
Dina’s Diner October 24, 2016
Men in female masks. Young men in makeup. Models being put out of work by drag queens and female basketball players. Baseball players in stockings. What’s it all mean? It’s all part of the ingredient list for the Special of the Day in today’s edition of Dina’s Diner. Dina mixes it all together, adds some of her special spices and let’s it simmer into a tasty dish that’s sure to please the most discerning palate. Don’t miss out on your serving of today’s special! It’s yummy!
Perpetual Change — Trans Music Makers
Today Pamela DeGroff reviews the new CD from trans man singer songwriter Ryan Cassata. It’s titled Shine. Then Pamela dives into to some music news from her favorite artists like Rev. Yolanda, Georgie Jessup, and Calpernia Addams. She also has Hedwig tour news and a note about the new Lady Gaga album, Joanne. She rounds out the column with a mini review of a new EP by a Norwegian rocker names Dagny. You’ll find it all in Perpetual Change, TGF’s longest running column.
Metamorphosis: Chapter 2
Last month we began the story of a young man who likes pretty things, and feminine expression who was faced with a choice. An old crone’s potion may transform him into a woman. Is it really what he desires in his heart of hearts? New TGF contributor Raquel Swann has crafted a fantasy tale that starts with that choice. Today we bring you Chapter 2 of “Metamorphosis – A Transgender Odyssey.” The young man has made his choice. What will happen now?
Significant Others — Accommodation
Julie Freeman is a significant other has been active in the gender community for over 20 years, particularly with significant others and couples groups. She has written articles for many publications including the Diablo Valley Girls newsletter among others. The following piece appeared on TGForum in 1996 and was first published in the Diablo Valley Girls […]
The Week In Trans 10/17/16
It’s The Week In Trans! What’s happening in the world of trans and trans related news? CoverGirl makeup has picked a 17-year-old boy as their face of So Lashly mascara. A job fair in L.A. is aimed at trans people seeking work. France has made it easier for trans people to get legal recognition. Singer Sade has a trans child. Hispanic trans TV star Cachita has passed away. An intersex person in Austria is stuck in legal limbo. A trans network in Britain has a new chair. Bob the Drag Queen’s mother was shot in the head, and lived. An American Ballet Theater male dancer has a drag persona. Trans man Kourt Frame is homecoming prince at his school. Gwen Araujo’s mother is interviewed 14 years after her daughter’s murder. There’s all that and even more, along with a large selection of TWIT Awards in this edition of TWIT!
How To Be Super Sexy in a Pencil Skirt
Today Tasi sings the praises of the pencil skirt. It’s called that because it is a slim silhouette that fits tight at the waist, tight at the hips and tight at the knees. Okay, it’s a tight, sexy skirt and wearing it right can make you feel at your most attractive, sexy best. Tasi outlines the many types of pencil skirts that are available and gives you hints and tips on how to work one, or many more, into your wardrobe. There are also video demos and links to other articles on this versatile wardrobe piece.
